Recommendation 18

The EA told us it is increasing the number of inspections it does, and its teams are building up expertise in how wastewater treatment plants work.52 Of the 4,600 inspections the EA undertook last year, it told us found breaches in permits in 1,653, including 92 serious breaches and six which would normally lead to prosecution.53 The EA said it faces a “justice gap” where it cannot prosecute all the offences it finds, because there are too many of them and prosecution is too expensive. The EA stated that its new powers for civil penalties, through the Water (Special Measures) Act, will help to encourage companies to take action.54